Many emerging trades are developing underneath the umbrella industry that is cannabis and regular, everyday facets of business can now be put to use in the new industry. These include legal consultation, security, and canna-journalism, and now there is even a destination-based trade emerging in the form of “canna-tourism.”

Industrial hemp and the fullness of its extraordinary destiny are making a glorious union thanks to the perseverance and ingenuity of brothers Ed and Carl Lehrberger and their recently retired partner Dr. Dick Wingerson, of Fort Lupton, Colorado.

It’s easy to get caught up working in the business and not on the business. What is the difference? Working in the business is when you do things such as bookkeeping, budtending, tracking inventory—all of which need to be done, but could be delegated to others. Working on your business is when you do research or development on the next new product, figure out the strategy for selling that product, meet with a potential business partner or work on the overall strategy for your business.

In 2015 Ohio voters rejected a proposal by ResponsibleOhio that consisted of a constitutional amendment making both recreational and medicinal cannabis legal. It would have granted marijuana growers rights to 10 wealthy investor groups, which highly resembled an oligopoly. The proposed amendment failed with 63.65% of voters against its passage.

California’s 1996 initiative (Prop 215) began the change, in this state and across the nation, in how cannabis is viewed. As problems developed with production and distribution, our Legislature passed the Medical Marijuana Program Act (MMPA or SB 420) in 2004, which allowed for collective/cooperative cultivation projects.

In April 2015 the cannabis industry started to undergo drastic changes implemented by the state of Washington. Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill that directly affects the medical marijuana community, which will take effect July 1, 2016. Senate Bill 5052 authorizes tighter restrictions on the medical community and, more specifically, medical dispensaries.

Much of the old “pot smoking” terminology has become as obsolete as has the hair cream referenced above. Yet for some of our older customers, the slang monikers “doobie, joint, bomber, roach, giggle weed, ganja, and Mary Jane—just to name a few—are familiar and comfortable.